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Merced, CA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a construction laborer make in Merced, CA?

In the Merced, CA metropolitan area, construction laborers earned a median of $54,440 a year ($26.17 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 380 of these jobs there. That is 15% above the $47,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $37,780 and $99,290; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $44,617 in take-home pay.

Construction laborer pay in Merced, CA at a glance

Median salary

$54,440$26.17 per hour · $4,537 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$37,780$18.16/hr
25th percentile$45,190$21.73/hr
75th percentile$70,330$33.81/hr
90th percentile$99,290$47.74/hr
Jobs in this metro380Location quotient 0.68 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here15% aboveAll-jobs median $47,220
Against California10% belowStatewide median $60,270
Against the U.S.16% aboveNational median $47,120

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $54,000 a year leaves after tax in CaliforniaFederal tax, FICA and California withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$26 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $54,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $54,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation California publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about California.

Construction laborer salary in Merced, CA after taxes

$54,440
$20,000$110,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$54,440
Net 82%
Fed 8%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$44,617After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,718Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,716Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,353 / yr
California state income tax$1,306 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,165 / yr
Customize deductions in full California calculator

Construction laborers pay range in Merced, CA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Merced, CA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What construction laborers earned in the Merced, CA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (CA)
10th percentile$18.16/hr$3,148$37,780$32,042
25th percentile$21.73/hr$3,766$45,190$37,700
MedianMedian$26.17/hr$4,537$54,440$44,617
75th percentile$33.81/hr$5,861$70,330$55,906
90th percentile$47.74/hr$8,274$99,290$73,692

Is $54,440 a good salary in Merced, CA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for construction laborers next to both.

Median household income$65,510Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)98.31.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household83.1%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Construction laborers pay in other California metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Merced, CA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Construction laborer pay in Merced, CA: common questions

What is the median salary for construction laborers in Merced, CA?

The BLS median annual wage for construction laborers in the Merced, CA metro area was $54,440 in May 2025, about $4,537 a month or $26.17 an hour. Statewide, the California median for this job is $60,270, so the metro pays 10% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for construction laborers in Merced, CA?

The median hourly wage for construction laborers in Merced, CA was $26.17 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.16 an hour and one in ten earned more than $47.74.

How many construction laborers work in Merced, CA?

BLS estimated 380 jobs for construction laborers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.68 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for construction laborers in Merced, CA?

BLS wage estimates for construction laborers in Merced, CA run from $37,780 at the 10th percentile to $45,190 at the 25th, $70,330 at the 75th, and $99,290 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do construction laborers take home after taxes in Merced, CA?

On a median gross salary of $54,440, an estimated $44,617 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,716 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,823 (an effective rate of 18%).

How much do construction laborers make per month in Merced, CA?

On the median annual salary of $54,440, gross monthly income is $4,537. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,718 per month (or $1,716 every two weeks).

Is $54,440 a good salary in Merced, CA?

At $54,440, the median salary for construction laborers is 83.1% of the Merced, CA median household income ($65,510). It is 15% above the $47,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 98.3, so prices here run 1.7% below the U.S. average.